title: Mutations and aberrant transcriptions of Stk11 (Lkb1) gene in rat liver tumors.
abstract: To clarify the involvement of the Stk11/Lkb1 gene in the development of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), its alteration in rat HCCs induced by exogenous and endogenous liver carcinogenesis models was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen HCCs induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) and 12 HCCs induced by a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet were obtained. To assess mutations and aberrant transcriptions of the Stk11 gene, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analyses were performed, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mutation was detected in only 1 out of 15 HCCs by DEN, but no mutations in 12 HCCs by the CDAA diet. Aberrant transcripts were found in 4 out of 15 HCCs by DEN and in 3 out of 12 HCCs by the CDAA diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that alterations of the Stk11 gene may play a limited role in both exogenous and endogenous rat liver carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kinki University, Higashiosaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Kanya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honoki
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujiuchi
mesh_terms: D000091162:AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002796:Choline Deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D004032:Diet; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002273:Carcinogens; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C488755:Stk11 protein, rat; D000091162:AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases